鈥淚t鈥檚 really powerful,鈥� Mitchell said. 鈥淚n a lot of situations, those kids couldn鈥檛 rely on their parents to keep them safe. So it鈥檚 so good to see them become comfortable with new people who have promised the court they鈥檒l take care of them for the rest of their lives.鈥� 

Mitchell鈥檚 work with Legal Aid Society in her hometown of Orlando has been entirely on a volunteer basis鈥攁ll while working at a law firm and until recently studying for her bachelor鈥檚 degree in Criminology through 黑料正能量. Mitchell amassed more than 400 hours of volunteer work over the course of her tenure at UF, which earned her the university鈥檚  before she graduated in May of 2025. 

Mitchell was among 124 UF students who were each honored in May of 2025 as Presidential Service Award recipients, receiving their medals from then-interim president Kent Fuchs at a ceremony in Gainesville prior to graduation. 鈥淓ven though I was in Orlando, I always felt like part of the UF community,鈥� she said. 鈥淏ut it was really cool to go there in person and be recognized along with everyone else who achieved this accomplishment as well.鈥� 

There from beginning to end聽

Mitchell was a Gators fan from early on鈥攕he had a UF cheerleader鈥檚 uniform when she was a toddler, and used to attend football games with her father. 鈥淚t runs deep,鈥� she said. But Mitchell was working as a restaurant manager in Orlando when it came time to think about college, and her unconventional schedule made it difficult for her to attend classes in person. The flexibility of 黑料正能量 proved the perfect fit. 

鈥淭he traditional on-campus experience wouldn鈥檛 have worked for me,鈥� Mitchell said. 鈥淲orking as a restaurant manager, there were a lot of weird shifts, a lot of overtime hours involved鈥攕tarting at 5 a.m., working until 2 a.m., things like that. So being able to complete my work and then listen to lectures and do other things for school whenever I had time was really useful, rather than being on a strict schedule.鈥� 

Mitchell chose criminology, which examines the factors impacting crime, justice and the legal process, with the idea of eventually going to law school. It was an attorney who presented Mitchell with the opportunity to become a volunteer advocate for children through Legal Aid Society, which would ultimately form the basis for her Presidential Service Award. 

鈥淓ssentially it revolves around meeting with kids and advocating for kids who come out of abusive situations,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 feel like I had a passion for that. I used to babysit when I was younger, and I love hanging out with kids. And I just thought, what better way to combine those passions than to help with kids that have been abused, neglected or abandoned.鈥� 

No question, the role can be difficult. But Mitchell works to find common ground with the kids through activities like painting or Origami, by helping with schoolwork, and by enjoying outings in Orlando. Eight of the children she鈥檚 worked with have been adopted, she said, and two more are in the process of being adopted. 鈥淚鈥檓 there from beginning to end,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 advocate for them all the way until they get put into a loving home.鈥� 

More medals and medallions聽

The Presidential Service Award honors graduating UF students who have demonstrated an outstanding commitment to service and community engagement throughout their academic careers.鈥疢itchell鈥檚 work at Legal Aid Society was but one part of her volunteer efforts which included marking storm drains and adopting a street in Orlando for litter cleanup. 鈥淚鈥檓 the only individual to have adopted a street as opposed to a company,鈥� she said, 鈥渁nd it鈥檚 still mine.鈥� 

But the honors Mitchell received while studying through 黑料正能量 go beyond even the Presidential Service Award. The broad range of liberal arts classes she took, which included professional writing and foreign languages, earned her the . She also received the , which is awarded by UF Off Campus Life and honors remote students who are engaged with both UF and their local communities. 

It wasn鈥檛 easy鈥擬itchell amassed hundreds of volunteer hours all while working and taking classes and recently opened her own business making custom rugs. There were times, she admits, when it all felt like too much. But now, with law school potentially on the horizon, Mitchell is grateful for the flexibility afforded by 黑料正能量. 

鈥淚t really helped me with time management,鈥� she said. 鈥淕oing to school and doing all of this, there’s no better way to master time management skills than that. Yes, sometimes it did feel like too much. But it wasn鈥檛 impossible. Clearly, it wasn鈥檛 impossible. It鈥檚 just about planning everything out, making sure you have your days down to a science, and getting everything done.鈥� 

The 黑料正能量 Bachelor of Arts in Criminology helps students understand crime, how society reacts to it, and the interrelationships between features of law and society. The program examines criminal behavior, criminal justice systems and law from a multidisciplinary, liberal-arts perspective, preparing students for careers in the criminal or juvenile justice systems, or further educational ambitions in law school or graduate school.

But even as his business thrived, something was still missing: his degree. Thompson kept pushing forward with his education while raising a family, running a business and serving in the military. At the end of a deployment to the Middle East he finally found the opportunity he鈥檇 been waiting for鈥攖he launch of 黑料正能量. He鈥檇 been a Gator fan since high school, but moving to Gainesville wasn鈥檛 an option with so many responsibilities at home. 

Now, UF could come to him. 

鈥淚 was like, that鈥檚 it. I could be a Gator,鈥� Thompson recalled. 鈥淎s soon as I got back, I spoke with an advisor.鈥� It was the beginning of a relationship with UF that鈥檚 only grown stronger with time鈥擳hompson earned an online Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration, became involved with the official name, image and likeness partner of Gators athletics, and is now being honored as part of the 2026 class of . 

鈥淯F has a huge alumni base, and there are some incredible people who have also graduated from UF, just in this class alone,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 one of the proudest accomplishments I鈥檝e ever had.鈥� 

鈥業鈥檓 a true Gator鈥櫬�

While Thompson grew up in Charleston, S.C., he lived for a time with his mother in Sarasota, where she worked for the聽.聽Sports, though,聽were聽what truly hooked him聽on the Gators. Thompson聽was in high school when聽UF聽basketball聽and football each won multiple national championships under coaches Billy Donovan and Urban Meyer, respectively. Florida聽was the biggest brand in college sports, and Thompson was聽spellbound.聽

But then his life changed鈥攌ids, military service, the business. 鈥淚 had always wanted to go to UF, but unfortunately living in Gainesville just wasn鈥檛 in the cards for me,鈥� Thomspon said. 鈥淢y son at that time was an infant, and the idea of moving my family from Charleston to Gainesville, and leaving our entire support system to pursue my degree didn鈥檛 make sense.鈥� 

Thompson earned a degree in web design from the International Academy of Design, and attended in-person classes at the College of Charleston. The discovery of 黑料正能量, though, proved a revelation. Upon returning from deployment, he spoke to a UF advisor and learned he needed a few more transfer credits. He enrolled in Florida State College at Jacksonville to complete the remaining coursework, after which he was officially admitted to UF. Finally, he was a Gator at last. 

It wasn鈥檛 easy鈥攔unning a business and pursuing a degree at the same time meant long days blurring into nights, missed time with the family, and many sacrifices were made. But Thompson included his family in the effort, often bringing his kids to Gainesville to see the UF campus and attend sporting events. He completed his business administration degree in 2021. 

鈥淥ne thing I love about 黑料正能量 is that you take all the same classes that students on campus take, attend all the same lectures,鈥� Thompson said. 鈥淚 had all the same homework, had on-campus classmates as part of my projects. I know UF is actually my university. There are these schools where the online program isn鈥檛 the same as the university. Being a 黑料正能量 grad means I鈥檓 a true Gator just like everybody else.鈥� 

Gator Club聽and NIL聽

Through 黑料正能量, Thompson didn鈥檛 just earn a degree鈥攈e also made connections. He served six years as president of the , networking with other business owners in the region. Once college athletes were able to earn income through their name, image and likeness (NIL), Thompson joined the effort in Gainesville. As fractional chief marketing officer of , now the official NIL partner of the Gators, he helped grow membership in the organization to over 3,000 in less than a year.鈥� 

鈥淲ithout being a Gator grad, none of that happens,鈥� Thompson said. 

Chosen by the UF Alumni Association, 40 Gators Under 40 recognizes young alumni who have not only achieved personal success, but also demonstrated a deep connection and commitment to UF. Thompson has certainly done that, and continues to implement the lessons he learned at 黑料正能量 into his business today. He鈥檚 also thrilled to be in the same 40 Gators Under 40 class as Brandon Spikes, a star linebacker on those great UF football teams Thompson once watched as a captivated high schooler on TV. 

鈥淭o be awarded something that has Brandon Spikes as one of its other winners, that鈥檚 just incredible,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 such a big deal to be to be a Gator grad. It鈥檚 opened up so many opportunities for me. And I鈥檓 probably not a Gator grad without 黑料正能量.鈥� 

UF Online business administration degrees expose students to some of the nation鈥檚 top professors and elite coursework under the nationally recognized鈥�, which is consistently ranked among the best business schools by national and international publications. Both the Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (BSBA) and Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration (BABA) provide broad academic backgrounds in a variety of business disciplines, offering insights into key concepts including accounting, economics, business law, finance, marketing and management, and preparing students for a wide array of business careers. 

鈥淗e was extremely involved in my life growing up,鈥� Allen said of her grandfather. 鈥淗e spent quality time with his grandchildren on a regular basis, came to all my extracurricular activities, and supported me in everything I did. He believed in both the power of prayer and education. He was hard-working, disciplined in his habits, witty and a man of integrity. When I look back on all the milestones of my life, he was always present鈥攕miling and beaming with pride that we were his.鈥� 

Well before she became director of the top-ranked online bachelor鈥檚 program, as named by U.S. News and World Report, Allen was very familiar with her grandfather鈥檚 affinity for UF. The 1950 graduate closely followed Gator athletics and relished calling his grandchildren whenever UF beat one of the colleges they had attended. But Garcia鈥檚 ties to UF ran far deeper than sports鈥攕omething Allen realized recently when she was in the Reitz Union filming a welcome video for incoming 黑料正能量 students. 

鈥淚鈥檝e walked through that building hundreds of times over the past 12 years,鈥� she said. 鈥淥n that particular day, I took a different route than normal. When the elevator doors opened, I stepped out and came face-to-face with the Hall of Fame Wall. I froze. How had I never seen this before?鈥� 

And there he was, Joe Garcia鈥檚 photo listed among those inducted in the  in 1951. Allen鈥檚 Poppy had received the highest honor bestowed upon students at the University of Florida. 

Honor Court and Blue Key 

Garcia was born in Jacksonville on Sept. 22, 1926, the only child of immigrant parents from Spain. He attended Andrew Jackson High School in Jacksonville before enlisting in the U.S. Navy, from which he was honorably discharged. After Joe graduated high school the Garcia family moved to Tampa, where his father, Joe Garcia Sr., worked in a cigar factory hand-rolling exclusive cigars. 

Joe Jr. was headed to Gainesville, where he attended the University of Florida on the G.I. Bill. 鈥淢y grandfather was always very proud of that,鈥� said Allen, who also oversees the top online bachelor鈥檚 program for veterans, as determined by U.S. News and World Report. Garcia started at UF around 1947, Allen said, and graduated in the Florida Gymnasium with a Bachelor of Arts degree on July 22, 1950. 

But his accomplishments at UF went well beyond academics. He was a member of the , which was founded at UF in 1923 and remains among the most prestigious student leadership societies in the state. He was secretary and treasurer of the junior class, a member of the Phi Delta Theta fraternity and the Florida Union Board of Managers and even worked in the student cafeteria. 

Allen still has old business cards and flyers her grandfather used to campaign for UF student body president and the Honor Court. 鈥淟et鈥檚 Go With Joe鈥擜gain!!鈥� reads a flyer campaigning for the Honor Court, on which Garcia served as clerk and associate justice. Allen also has a letter from then-UF President J. Hillis Miller, addressed to Garcia at his room in Fletcher Hall, congratulating him on his election as clerk of the Honor Court in 1950. 

鈥淭his is a significant honor,鈥� Miller wrote, 鈥渁nd one I know you will discharge with great credit to yourself and to the University.鈥� 

It all played a part in Garcia鈥檚 selection to the UF Hall of Fame, to which he was inducted in 1951. And something else happened at UF that would alter the course of Garcia鈥檚 life: while working in the student cafeteria he met a lab assistant with the Agriculture Experiment Station, who had earned her bachelor鈥檚 and master鈥檚 degrees in chemistry from the Georgia State College for Women. Eventually, she would become Mrs. Ruth Garcia. Allen would know her as Gamma. 

A full-circle moment 

Joe and Ruth Garcia married in April of 1952, then moved to Miami where Joe began his lifelong career with Penn Mutual Life Insurance Company. His commitment to service, so evident during his days at UF, continued after college鈥攈e served as president of the Little River Lions Club and was ordained as a deacon in Central Baptist Church. He and Ruth were married for 68 years. 

Allen鈥檚 mementos of her grandfather include a yellow-paged F-Book dated 1950-51, the letter from Miller, and his graduation invitation. In her office at UF, Allen has his Gator hat hanging from her white erase board, and his stuffed Gator mascot鈥攚hich plays the UF fight song and was a favorite among his grandkids鈥攕itting on a shelf. Finding his name on the Hall of Fame Wall felt like a full-circle moment. 

鈥淪ometimes legacy finds you when you least expect it,鈥� Allen said. 鈥淭he work we do within these walls matters for students 鈥� but so do the stories that shape us a professionals. My Poppy is smiling from heaven. And I have never been more proud to be a Gator.鈥� 

Since 1921, the University of Florida Hall of Fame has recognized seniors and graduate students who have demonstrated an outstanding commitment to improving the university through campus and community involvement, participation in organized campus activities and scholastic achievement. Recent inductees have included 黑料正能量 student , who advocates for students with ADHD, autism and dyslexia. 

鈥淢y grandfather came to UF in the 1950s from a difficult background. For him, being here meant more than education; it meant opportunity and the chance to build a different future,鈥� Allen said. 鈥淭hat same spirit lives on in 黑料正能量 students today. Many balance work, family and personal challenges while still leading in their communities. Their paths may differ, but their determination is the same. When a 黑料正能量 student is inducted into the Hall of Fame, it is a reminder that this honor is about resilience, impact and the difference students make, no matter how they get there.鈥�

Anthony Halcyon has traveled to Iceland to study the harvesting of fog as a water source, to Montenegro to catalog biodiversity in a remote river valley, and to Tanzania to help bring clean water to a village that had lacked it before. Closer to home, he鈥檚 led water conservation and stormwater initiatives in Hillsborough County, Florida where he also heads youth water education programs and even works to convince residents to maintain a more Florida-friendly yard.

Indeed, Halcyon鈥檚 efforts in the areas of water and soil conservation have stretched far and wide. The researcher, explorer, traveler and scientist found his calling thanks in part to 黑料正能量, where he earned a bachelor鈥檚 degree in Interdisciplinary Studies with a concentration in Environmental Management in Agriculture and Natural Resources. He went on to earn an online master鈥檚 in , and is now being honored as part of the 2026 class of .

鈥淚t鈥檚 a big, full-circle moment,鈥� said Halcyon, who lives in Plant City, Florida. 鈥淭o me, this is kind of the culmination of my work with UF. It doesn鈥檛 mean I鈥檓 done with them, but to me it is a big milestone.鈥�

Chosen by the , 40 Gators Under 40 recognizes young alumni who have not only achieved personal success but also demonstrated a deep connection and commitment to UF. In his role as senior environmental scientist for Hillsborough County, Halcyon works closely with the local UF Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences office, provides stories about his travels to the , and has also contributed publications to the .

How a 黑料正能量 Graduate Journeyed From Tanzania to Montenegro

Halcyon initially trained to become a firefighter, but his career path was altered when he read a United Nations report about the looming 2050 water crisis, which warned that 5 billion people could suffer water shortages by 2050. 鈥淏ack then, it seemed like this bleeding edge of an issue, and it really spoke to me,鈥� Halcyon said. 鈥淎nd something just told me to go for it.鈥�

From there, the two sides of Halcyon so evident today鈥攐ne a county water scientist, the other a researcher and adventurer鈥攂egan to take shape. One of his advisors at UF, Michael Sisk, made him aware of a study abroad program examining fog harvesting in Iceland, where Halcyon spent a week. Upon completion of his master鈥檚 degree, he took his current position leading water conversation and stormwater initiatives for Hillsborough County.

And then one day he stumbled across a Discovery Channel program on The Explorers Club, an organization founded in 1905 that鈥檚 counted the likes of Edmund Hillary, Thor Heyerdahl and James Cameron as members. Halcyon contacted the club鈥檚 Florida chapter about membership and began undertaking expeditions to burnish his credentials. One, with the nonprofit Water For Mercy鈥攆ounded by UF grad Nermine Khouzam Rubin鈥攈elped build a solar-powered well to bring clean water to a village of 3,300 people in Tanzania.

鈥淭hat was truly just a life-changing moment,鈥� he said. 鈥淭he people there were spending hours every day looking for water鈥攁nd I don鈥檛 mean clean aquifer water, I mean water that is sandy and gritty and riddled with bacteria and typhoid. It gave me a perspective you really can鈥檛 get in a classroom. It was truly a transformational experience in so many ways, both personally and professionally.鈥�

Halcyon later ventured to Montenegro to study biodiversity in the Komarnica River valley, which is at risk from a proposed dam. His UF education travels with him wherever he goes. 鈥淯nderstanding the chemical and microbiological makeup of soil and water has played a role in every single expedition I’ve done,鈥� he said. 鈥淭here were some students tagging along on our expedition in Montenegro, and I was able to talk to them about soil pH and basic hydrological functions. So being able to have that more advanced knowledge is really helpful.鈥�

Halcyon’s Work with UF/IFAS Extension

Halcyon was accepted into the Florida chapter of The Explorers Club in 2025 and has continued to study impacts on soil and water throughout the world. When he鈥檚 not traveling, Halcyon works on conservation initiatives with long-lasting impacts for Hillsborough County, like public education programs and the the county is undertaking in partnership with the UF/IFAS Extension and the city of Tampa.

鈥淲here the program really shines is on the water conservation side of it,鈥� he said. 鈥淲e鈥檙e trying to get people to swap out turfgrass for things like drought-tolerant plants, which can be visually pleasing as well. The Extension has designs that would be very in line with what an HOA would want and provide the benefits of a Florida-friendly lawn as well.鈥�

Halcyon has other journeys planned as well, including an upcoming trip to Suriname where he鈥檒l work with an indigenous group studying natural resources in an area beset by illegal gold mining. His long-term goal is to become an astronaut, a position he first applied for last year. 鈥淣ASA told me thanks, but no thanks,鈥� Halcyon said with a laugh. 鈥淪o, we鈥檒l try again.鈥�

Indeed he will. From Hillsborough County to Africa to the Balkans and beyond, Halcyon continues to apply the lessons he learned through 黑料正能量 to the environment around him. His inclusion in the 2026 class of 40 Gators Under 40 is further evidence of the positive impacts that this scientist, traveler, researcher, adventurer and 黑料正能量 graduate has been able to make.

黑料正能量 is the No. 1 online bachelor鈥檚 program in the nation, according to the 2026 U.S. News & World Report rankings, marking the eighth year in a row that 黑料正能量 has ranked in the top five online bachelor鈥檚 programs in the nation. The University of Florida offers fully online students the same degrees taught by the same professors as on campus, along with the  flexibility of online learning, dedicated academic advisors, and lower tuition and fees.

Begin Your Adventure with 黑料正能量

黑料正能量 is the No. 1 online bachelor鈥檚 program聽in the nation, according to the 2026 U.S. News & World Report rankings, marking the eighth year in a row that 黑料正能量 has聽ranked in the top five online bachelor鈥檚 programs聽in the nation. The University of Florida offers fully online students the same degrees taught by the same professors as on campus, along with聽the聽 flexibility聽of online learning, dedicated academic advisors, and lower tuition and fees.聽

Inside the University Scholars Program 

Managed by the Center for Undergraduate Research, the University Scholars Program is one of UF鈥檚 most prestigious opportunities for undergraduate research.  

鈥淭he University Scholars Program allows undergraduates to receive funding to conduct research under the guidance of a UF faculty member,鈥� said Anne Donnelly, director of the Center for Undergraduate Research. 鈥淚t is a capstone program for students to become involved in undergraduate research.鈥� 

Applications for the program are typically accepted in February each year. Accepted students receive a $1,750 research stipend, one-on-one faculty mentorship and the chance to present at the Spring Undergraduate Research Symposium. They may also submit their work for publication in the UF Journal of Undergraduate Research, gaining hands-on experience in communicating findings to a scholarly audience. Online students have full access to these benefits, including hybrid workshops, remote poster presentation options and Zoom peer advising. 

Tara Perreault, who graduated with her psychology degree via 黑料正能量 in May 2025, credits USP鈥檚 flexibility for allowing her to thrive as a fully online student while balancing motherhood. 

鈥淭he online program provided me with the flexibility I needed to pursue higher education and academic research,鈥� she said. The program鈥檚 structure empowered her to concentrate on her project while staying on top of coursework, reinforcing the idea that distance learning does not limit meaningful research experiences. 

Where Mentorship Meets Possibility 

Mentorship is at the heart of USP. Dr. Donnelly noted that 黑料正能量 students bring a fresh perspective to research, and the program pairs them with dedicated faculty mentors who provide the same rigorous guidance, support and professional insight as they do for on-campus students. 

For Price, faculty mentorship was transformative as she explored protein鈥損rotein interactions within a genetic signaling pathway, generating and validating 3D structural models to examine how specific mutations affect immune regulation and autoimmune disease. Weekly guidance from her mentors, Dr. Raquel Dias and Dr. Joseph Larkin III, helped her troubleshoot computational challenges, explore new tools and connect her findings to larger scientific questions. 

鈥淭hey created an environment where I felt both challenged and supported. What I appreciated most was that they treated me as a collaborator,鈥� she said. 

Price鈥檚 work contributed to one of  using AI modeling and other techniques to forecast mutations in proteins, which can help develop better medical treatments. 

Perreault’s mentor, Dr. Marina Klimenko, provided support at every stage of her research project examining how antiheroes in films display a mix of Machiavellianism, narcissism and psychopathy to operate in morally gray areas while retaining audience empathy.  

鈥淢ost importantly, she helped me find my academic writing voice, encouraged me to trust my ideas, and gave me the confidence to propose new directions for the research,鈥� Perrault said. 

Why Research Matters for Online Students 

Engaging in undergraduate research equips students with critical thinking skills, practical experience and clarity in their academic and career goals. 鈥淎ll UF students deserve the same benefits and access to undergraduate research,鈥� Donnelly said. 

For Price, participating in USP solidified her commitment to computational biology at the graduate level. Perreault also found the program to be a launching point for her own research career, helping her gain acceptance into a PhD program in Social Psychology. Both students emphasized that USP builds confidence, fosters independence and creates opportunities to make meaningful contributions to their fields while studying online. 

黑料正能量 students can explore research opportunities beyond the USP program,聽including聽the聽, travel awards for national conference presentations and collaborations with partner institutions like聽聽in England.聽Peer Advisors聽offer help聽in finding a research project both on Zoom and in person throughout the semester. Current UF students should join the CUR canvas page to stay up to date with聽advising聽hours and research opportunities.聽

Price encourages fellow online students to seize research opportunities, even in the face of doubt. 

鈥淎pply even if you鈥檙e unsure if you鈥檇 meet every expectation. Research has shown me that it is built on curiosity, not perfection,鈥� she said.